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The added value of microalgae
in EU and Lombardy
G. D’Imporzano1 2, F. Adani 1 2, P. Mariani 1 3
1ALGAE JOINT RESEARCH PLATFORM, PARCO TECNOLOGICO PADANO, VIA EINSTEIN, LOC. C.NA CODAZZA, LODI, ITALY
2GRUPPO RICICLA, DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE AGRARIE ED AMBIENTALI, UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO, VIA G. CELORIA 2, MILANO, ITALY
4PTP, PARCO TECNOLOGICO PADANO, VIA EINSTEIN, LOC. C.NA CODAZZA, LODI, ITALY
Microalgae:
Microalgae are a huge group of photosynthetic microorganisms typically
unicellular and eukaryotic.
cyanobacteria (blue green algae) photosynthetic prokaryotes, ere often
considered as “microalgae”.
High photosynthetic efficiency (up to 20% of PAR, 10% glogal)
Large capacity to produce biomass
Is not the main interesting feature for EU, which is not focused on commodities
production
INTERESTING FEATURE: biomass
INTERESTING FEATURE (III):
Keen of dowstream…suitable for biorefinery
Nutrients (slurry and digestate)
CO2
Carbon downstream
…
Koller et al 2014
High metabolic plasticity
Complex biochemical composition
Combine advantages of unicellular microorganism, with very interesting secondary
metabolism
Microalgae have been exploited since a few decades for the possibility to use them as
single-cell bio-factories for the production of nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals,
pigments, biopolymers, chemicals and animal feed products.
INTERESTING FEATURE: biological lab
Biological lab
Koller et al 2014
Nutraceutic and functional ingredients
.
A food ingredient is considered “functional” if has a scientifically proven benenefit for one
or more functions of the human organism, improving the state of health or well-being or
reducing the risk of disease (Diplock et al 1999)
Functional activities, such as antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory,
hepatoprotective, hypocholesterolemic and anticancer
Recently established benefits in human health open new uses for some carotenoids, (
lutein, astaxanthin…) , as an effective agent for the prevention and treatment of a variety of
degenerative diseases.
.
Nutraceutic and functional ingredients
Nutraceutic and functional ingredients
Recombinant high value proteins
New products that have been made by algae through genetic modification.
Even more.
BIOLOGICAL PLATFORM
Other future scenarios
The combination of inorganic and organic (pigments) materials for solar energy
harvesting is the key feature of promising low-cost alternative to classical silicone PV cells
Artificial photosynthetic devices attempt to mimic biological systems.
Market
Since 1980, large-scale micro-algae production facilities were established in
Asia, India, the USA, Israel and Australia.
Nowadays approximately 200 species of micro-algae are used worldwide.
There is a well-established global market for micro-algae based food and
feed products,
Market SIZE and trends
Since 1980, large-scale micro-algae production facilities were established in Asia, India,
the USA, Israel and Australia.
Nowadays approximately 200 species of micro-algae are used worldwide.
Spirulina and Chlorella dietary supplements have an estimated global production values
of about $80 Millions/year .
High-value molecules (such as astaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids and β-carotene, lutein)
have smaller production volumes but larger market potential. (40 M $ by 2014)
Poly-unsaturated fatty acids (DHA/EPA) from micro-algae are only 240 tons/year, but the
market value of this production is estimated to be higher than $300 Million/year.
Market data published by University of Commerce in Vienna conjointly with AT Kearney
in spring 2008, forecasts a vibrant growth till 2019 on the markets of eatable oil, fish oil
and DHA.
MARKET
Source JRC 2014
Market: the value…of added value.
EU position
The production of microalgae-based food and feed products from European firms is
currently estimated at around 5% of the global market.
Is important to outline the future challenges for Europe to become a key player in this
field and is a chance for agricultural sector
Strong position in science and technology.
High- quality agriculture production and food industry with multinationals operating
on the global scale.
High levels of human capital, workforce with engineering and technical skills
High investments in R&D
Some weaknesses
suboptimal climatic conditions with high levels of rainfall,
low levels of sun hours and intensity (especially in winter)
low temperatures for most countries outside southern Europe
The difficulties in achieving commercial authorization of algae-derived products in the
EU markets due to the complexity of the regulation of novel foods in Europe.
EU strengths and perspective
Lombardy position
High- quality agriculture production and food industry
and energy (more than 400 biogas plants)
Fonte: Prem S. Bindraban, ISRIC‐World Soil Information ‐ Researcher Agro‐system Research, 2013
Lombardy strengths and perspective
Qualified and industrialized agrofood production
•ARABLE land 2.385.000 hectares
•Farms 57.000
Nutrient and carbon byproducts availability
•Milk wheey
•Winery downstream
Lombardy strengths and perspective
Biogas plants acts as biorefinery center
Biogas plants 400
Downstreams of anaerobic digestion
•CO2
•Nutrients (in mineral form)
•heat
scale-up.
Reduction of production costs ;
Improvement of production technologies for the safety of food products;
Stability/reliability of large cultures and suitable strains avoiding contamination
and crash of the cultures.
Challenges
RESEARCH AREASStrain improvement: this includes strain selection, mutagenesis and genetic
modification.
Isolation and preservation of strains
Selection and improvement of strains
•Improvement of photosynthetic efficiency
•Improve productivity of selected products
•New GM algae products under development
DNA expression
understanding of algal metabolism and regulation
More recent developments in DNA sequencing techniques, systems biology and
tools to determine relevant enzymes and metabolites opened possibilities for the
design and engineering of (new) metabolic pathways for the production of new
algal products recombinant proteins and new pharmaceuticals
RESEARCH AREAS
Technological productivity improvement: this includes reactor design, process
control, harvesting and extraction.
Influence of culture conditions and improvement of production
Design of photobioreactors
Process control, harvesting
Extraction and purification of products
Biorefinery exploitation (cicular economy and symbiosis)
Environmental research
Environmental assessment compared to estabilished production (i.e Ω 3-6)
full knowledge about the possible production of toxins, allergens or other harmful
compounds by the algae strain(s) that are used in industrial production.
Safety research
biosafety
food safety assessment
PARCO TECNOLOGICO PADANO, VIA EINSTEIN, LOC. C.NA CODAZZA, 26900 LODI, ITALY
ALGAE JOINT RESEARCH PLATFORM
Expertise on algae
Strain selectionAlgae growing process control
Genomic, trascriptomic assesment
Proteomic
Bioprocess
Downstream management
Bioenergy/environment
Agrofood production
and safety
genomic
RESEARCH AREASStrain improvement: this includes strain selection, mutagenesis and genetic
modification.
Isolation and preservation of strains
Selection and improvement of strains
DNA expression
understanding of algal metabolism and regulation
Biorefinery exploitation (cicular economy and symbiosis)
Environmental assessment compared to estabilished production (i.e Ω 3-6)
BIOREFINERY AND CIRCULAR
ECONOMY
Regione Lombardia –CARILPLO BIOREFILL - project ID 42611813
� MICROALGAE GROWTH
� CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
� MOLECULAR ANALYSIS:
intended to perform a transcriptomics analysis of the culture in order to
assess the physiological response at the different growth conditions .
Setting of low cost cultivation systems capable of reducing production costs of
microalgal biomass, produced to extract high value-added compounds, for
nutraceutical and pharmaceuticals, to ensure the economic sustainability of the
entire production process.
Co2 Emission Reduction by microalgaE for
high value Renewable products Extraction
(CERERE)
The main objective of the CERERE is to promote the reuse of by-products coming from
agricultural and farming activities, to obtain new commercial added-value products,
through microalgae cultivation.
This becomes part of the CO2 sustainable management and recycling, one of the key issues
in sustainability and ecological compatibility of human activities.
Anaerobic Digestion
Biomass
Algal Biomass
Market
Land surface used for Chlorella sp 1 ha
Lombardy biobased refinery
Key drive for sector development
R&D investment
Technology transfer
Joining and sharing connecting competences
Knowledge dissemination
Worshop and seminar
Advisory services for production (technical and legal ones to overcome market
barrier and boost SME participation to this new market)
Knowledge platform for the aggregation of small player
INTEGRATED ALGAE BASED BIOREFINERY FROM
RENEWABLE CARBON SOURCES TO PRODUCE HIGH
VALUE PRODUCTS (DANCE)
To produce added value molecule from microalgae
To exploit downstream of Lombardy agriculture
